AltWeeklies Wire
Despite its Flaws, '2M2MM' Has a Certain Televisual Appealnew
What if you took four online poker players, sent them to Las Vegas to live like high-rolling kings and tasked them with the goal of winning $2 million in two months? I'll admit, it's a "what if" scenario I've never actually contemplated. But thanks to the new G4 reality series Two Months. Two Million., it's one with which we're all now confronted.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
09-08-2009 |
TV
Real (Scary) World: When Reality Shows Killnew
The tragic story of Ryan Jenkins allegedly murdering a swimsuit model named Jasmine Fiore would have been just another obscure, SoCal, TMZ footnote were it not for the fact that Jenkins was a rising star in the reality show world. That juicy tidbit is now shining an unwelcome light on the sleazy world of reality show one-upmanship.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
09-01-2009 |
Movies
DIY Documentary 'Handmade Nation' Chronicles the Indie Crafts Movementnew
Several years ago, Faythe Levine set out to document the world of DIY art, craft and design. This deeply personal quest led to the creation of a just-released feature documentary called Handmade Nation and a popular companion book of the same name.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
09-01-2009 |
Reviews
The Simple Drama of 'Lemon Tree' Makes for a Powerful Middle East Parablenew
The story, based on a real incident, reads like a fable. Paying attention strictly to the David vs. Goliath surface of it, viewers will be amply rewarded. But Lemon Tree has a number of subtle stories lurking just under the surface.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
08-25-2009 |
Reviews
'Sleep Dealer' Hits Some High Notes Despite its Micro Budgetnew
There are glitches in Sleep Dealer (cheap effects, wobbly acting, an ending that's far more emotionally rewarding than logically satisfying), but most of them are the charming flaws of a homegrown work of art.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
08-18-2009 |
Reviews
The Colony: When Big Brother Met Mad Maxnew
So, in some respects, there's reason to celebrate the arrival of Discovery Channel's new show, The Colony. For starters, it has less to do with "vote somebody off each week" competitions like Survivor and more in common with ongoing social experiments like PBS' Frontier House.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O’Leary |
08-04-2009 |
TV
Underground Filmmaker Jon Moritsugu Talks About His Move to New Mexico and His New Projectnew
The do-it-all DIY filmmaker has a body of work that floats somewhere in the artistic ether between the pop art obsessions of Andy Warhol and the trashy aesthetics of John Waters.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
07-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bleary-Headed Party Boys Aren't Quite As Bad As They Wanna Be–But They're Still Funnynew
Arguably, the cumulative effect of The Hangover isn't quite as outrageous as it could (or probably should) be. But fans of Todd Phillips' previous efforts will nurse sufficient belly laughs from the film's post-drunken shenanigans.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
06-09-2009 |
Reviews
'Iron Man: Armored Adventures' on Nicktoonsnew
Iron Man: Armored Adventures is a blatant attempt to make the runaway success of the Iron Man live-action movie appeal to the tween crowd. How do you do that? By stripping away almost everything that made the film such a success, apparently.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
05-05-2009 |
TV
On the Beat: 'Southland'new
Give Southland a little time to unfold and you'll see a crime series almost as distinctive as ER was (at least initially) as a medical series.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leart |
04-14-2009 |
TV
The 10 Worst Films of 2008new
From An American Carol to Witless Protection, here are the past year's cinema stinkers.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
01-06-2009 |
Movies
'Milk' Breathes Life into Counterculture Crusadernew
There is an inevitability to the tragedy of Milk, but the film never wallows in the downbeat. Instead, it gently celebrates the spirit of its indefatigable hero. More than just a martyr to the cause of gay rights, Milk was a leader who stepped up when troubled times demanded.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
12-09-2008 |
Reviews
The James Bond Primer: Babes, Cars, Gadgets and Morenew
Feel the need to bone up on your Bond history before catching Quantum of Solace, the 22nd film in the official 007 series? Here's all you need to know about the last 46 years' worth of cinematic superspies.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
11-18-2008 |
Movies
'Life on Mars' Cops an Attitudenew
There are probably a few out there who recognize ABC's Americanized cop series Life on Mars thanks to good old BBC America. If the American writers can stay on target and keep scripts half as smart as the British ones, the show has a decent shot at success.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
10-28-2008 |
TV
'Pride and Glory': When Good Cop Movies Go Badnew
The film is so dark, tonally as well as visually, the entire affair looks like it was shot during a solar eclipse. In other words, it looks and feels right. But something is off. Mostly, it's the script.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
10-28-2008 |
Reviews
